The devil, the merchant, and the angel left the comfort of Quackitys expensive home and ran fast down the old cobbled roads of hell. The angel clung to Dream tightly, the fear of falling never left him no matter how many times they had ran.
"He's far past Tommy's house, out towards the blood ocean of the first circle of hell! If we don't hurry he may flee to the second circle." Quackity started through his heavy breaths, turning past the medics clinic and towards Sapnaps house.
Sapnap and Karl don't live far from the pit, so passing their house will only be a part of their journey. The blood ocean is out past Tommy's house; the boys live nearer to the ocean due to its safer distance from the pit. Yet they still deal with things like this.
"Who would willingly leave the first circle!? The pit is in this circle, only people who can't protect themselves flee this circle, and travel forever just to get food!" Dream was confused as ever, not even understanding why people travel past the second circle in the first place. If souls are so scared of final death, you'd think they'd make bonds with stronger demons.
The soul withers without food, so truly it makes less sense.
"I don't know, maybe he's collecting angels to flee this circle? It makes the most sense. But he's fucked with the wrong boy, because I like that boy, and nobody fucks with the only merchant in hell!" Quackity yelled, finally passing Tommy's old, run-down home. "God, all three of them live in this dump, it's unjust. They'll live like kings in the new house I will build for them." Quackity stopped at the little path towards the door, staring at the cracked windows and scorched walls.
"How did we not know it was so bad for them? Look at this place, you can tell it's been broken into many times." George grimaced, staring at some holes near the dirt.
"I knew it was bad, but I didn't know it was this bad. They always seemed so happy and content." Quackity sighed, walking up to the door and stepping inside.
There were no couches, no beds, no furniture. Nothing in sight is worth anything. The only thing he could find of value was a little photo hanging on the wall in a crystal white frame. It was of the three boys, smiling at the camera next to a fire. Quackity gently took the photo off the wall and stared at it.
"So that's why Tubbo asked for a photo frame." Quackity sighed, staring at the photo and lightly touching the glass. "It's the only thing he's ever asked for." Quackity nearly teared up, looking at the pure joy on the children's faces. "They're so happy, it almost hurts to know they ended up here, it's unfair. They're good people, and care so much about each other. They deserved better than this." Quackity felt a tear run down his face and quickly straightened himself out, brushing off his cheek and making the photo disappear.
"Where'd it go?" George asked, staring at Quackity in sympathy.
"My personal room. I'll put it up in the main living space of the boys once the house is built." Quackity stood straight, entering the only other room in this dump, the bedroom. Dream and George followed behind.
"This place is a wreck." Dream was definitely disgusted. There was practically nothing, but old tattered blankets on the floor, three dirty pillows, and a little candle in the corner. There were holes in the wall, the door was practically falling off its hinges, the glass window was all cracked, and the wooden floor was rotting.
"I can't believe they live like this, how could they not have asked for help?" George seemed so upset for them, looking at how they were forced to stay. They genuinely had nothing, and still all seemed so happy. It was pitiful.
"They won't have to live like this anymore. I should've taken them in when I first met them months ago. They fell after you, George, they were so lost and confused, but they all stuck together throughout it. I heard that Ranboo was a merchant and sought him out, but when I saw that he was a boy, I just couldn't. I kept him at my house trying to figure out where he lived, but Tubbo and Tommy came banging on my door; they knew of me, and knew I don't let other merchants roam hell. They were so scared, but I let them come in. I grew fond of them, truly I did. Ranboo always comes back to my house, looking for Tommy and Tubbo, and looking around my house at all my 'fascinating things'. I love those boys, very dearly with all my heart. They're just kids, they deserve more than this." Quackity picked up a little blanket with bees on it. "I'll clean this and give it to Tubbo, it's definitely his." He made it vanish in a snap.
"You must really like those boys. You're like a father." Dream commented, turning to leave the room.
"You could say I feel the need to protect them, but I'm no father. Plus, my lovely partners take up most of my time, it's only when they're not there that I check up on the boys. Like I said, they're all the highlights of my days." Quackity turned to leave with Dream, exiting the house and turning back down the dirt path towards the blood ocean.
They walked this time, they were still out of breath from the mad dash this far.
"I fear Tubbo's been hurt. I don't think I'll forgive myself if he is. If Tubbo is gone, Tommy will go too. He'll seek out the man that took him and give away his soul, it's in their deal. I never thought I'd see this day come." Quackity was lost in his thoughts, staring at the path ahead of him. "If Tubbo is gone, Tommy will go too." Quackity repeated. "And if they both leave, Ranboo will be so lost. My boys, all three of them, I won't survive without them."
Dream had never seen this before. The feared and only merchant of hell, broken down by a few little boys. Dream had to admit, he himself was praying to Satan that the young boy was alright. He'd hate to see George cry over this, he'd physically hate it. He couldn't stop this pain from coming if things didn't turn out their way.
"Is that it?" George asked, seeing a vast red pool in the distance that stretched until he could see only the sky. He couldn't see the second circle, meaning it was miles and miles away.
"Yes, see that house right there? That's where he is, the man who took the boy. He will pay for all he's done today. For all the pain he put Tommy through, for all the stress he's caused me. His soul will wither today. And if he's taken Tubbos final life, I shall torture that man to the end of time." Quackity fumed, his aura practically dripping tar once again.
Dream went to open the door, but Quackity kicked it down first, summoning his axe he'd stolen from God himself.
"Jesus Quackity, be quiet or he might run off." Dream quietly pushed, walking inside behind a crazed merchant.
They saw nothing inside, but there was a trapped door with stairs leading to an underground basement.
"If Tubbo is not down here, I swear to Satan I will rain hell fire throughout this damned limbo." Quackity raged; quietly of course.
They all made their way down the stairs, the stench of blood and pain prominent in the air.
There was Tubbo, covered in his own blood laying on his side, staring at the concrete wall in the back. The room was large, fully a concrete box, with the only light coming from the stairs, and a little steel door to the right.
"Tubbo! Are you hurt? Let me see, my boy, let me see!" Quackity frantically ran up to Tubbo who was laying on the concrete floor, the only spot he was bleeding was his back. He threw his prized axe to the side and fell to his knees beside Tubbo. Quackity teared up in pain for his friend.
"Quackity...? You found me, please, please get me out of here. He's going to take me away from this circle. Away from my friends!" Tubbo cried, turning over to his other side, staring at Quackity.
"I'll get you out of here, my boy. Please, just tell me where it hurts, I'll make it better, I promise! My boy, my poor boy. I am so sorry I let this happen." Quackity cried, trying to get a look at the blood.
"I'm okay, Quackity, please just bring me back to Tommy and Ranboo. Tommy's probably falling apart right now." Tubbo shook, using Quackitys shoulder to sit up.
It was crazy for Dream to see, a beaten and tear stained boy, laying in his own blood on cold, hard concrete, and still the only thing he could think about was the pain his friends were in.
It reminded Dream of himself towards his own friends. He had no care for himself, and only protected the ones he loved. He'd lay down his life for his friends, and sacrifice his soul to tyrants for his angel.
Perhaps the devil had grown softer over the years, for once he was a man with no care for anyone but himself and Sapnap. A century in hell can ruin a man for all he believes in, and give him so much more than what he started with. It makes him wonder what it must be like to be down here for eons, much like the medic who's spent over a thousand years rotting away down here.
"Yes, my boy, I'll take you to them. They're at Sapnaps waiting for me, Dream, and George to take you back. Can you stand?" He could not stand. Quackity picked Tubbo up quickly, holding him so dearly close.
"Tubbo, I'm so happy you're alright!" George nearly cried, reaching out his hand to grab Tubbos, who took his hand in his.
"Thank you, Gogy. I'm glad you kept the bracelet." Tubbo smiled, seeing the little white bracelet he had given to George still sitting on his wrist.
"Of course, I love it very much. You boys mean so much to me, I was so worried about you." George smiled with sad eyes, letting go of Tubbos hand, wrapping his arm around Dream.
"Where is he? The man who took you here? I have to go deal with him!" Dream seethed in anger, you could practically see the tar dripping from his soul. He was ready to end that man's existence in the most painful way possible.
"He went out that door, mumbling about having to find a way out with me." Tubbo pointed to a little door to the right. "I don't think he didn't want to eat me... I think he wanted... something else." Tubbo shuttered. Quackitys eyes grew wide, looking at Dream, who practically blew up in angry flames.
'He's a child! A young boy who's ended himself here! How could anyone want anything to do with a boy!?' Dream mind screamed. His rule rang through his head, never bring harm to a child. He was disgusted, he was enraged, and he was ready to draw blood.
"Did he touch you!? Tell me if he did, Tubbo! I don't care how far into hell we are, I do not let pedofiles live! He'll go for another young boy if he's not killed right fucking now! Did he touch you!?" Dream nearly screamed, practically making the concrete shake.
"No, no! He didn't touch me! Just clawed at my angel wounds to make them fresh again! Please, I'm sorry I got myself into this situation, I just want to see Tommy and Ranboo" Tubbo cried. Screaming and yelling reminded him of his father, who was still presently alive on earth. He feared the day he'd end up down here.
"Tubbo, do not be sorry. We're just worried about you, that's all. Nobody's mad at you." Quackity soothed the boy, who had tears streaming down his face in traumatic memories.
"I'm sorry for yelling, Tubbo. It's not you I'm mad at, I'd never harm a child, ever. I'm just angry right now, I'm in no way mad at you. I'm not yelling at you, I'm yelling in anger at somebody else." Dream quietly explained, gently laying a hand on Tubbos shoulders for support.
"It's okay, I just don't like yelling. My father did that a lot. I fear him." Tubbo calmed down quickly. He had stopped shaking so much, but the slight jitters from the pain in his back were still there.
"Tubbo, can you stand at all? I can't take George with me for this, and he can't walk." Dream asked slowly, realizing that he had no way of getting George out of here.
"I can stand and use Quackity to drag my legs along, I'm just shaken up right now." Tubbo said quickly, slowly laying his feet to the ground and using Quackitys shoulder as support.
"Keep them safe, Quackity. Go to Sapnaps and keep them all there. I'll be with you shortly. Any farther you go our souls are at risk. I'll deal with this." Dream stated, handing George over to his old friend. Quackity took George gently, and made sure Tubbo was standing okay.
"Alright, my friend, be careful." Quackity warned, turning with George and Tubbo in his grasp.
"Wait, Dream!" George shouted before Dream left. "Come here." He pulled Dream into a tight kiss. "Please come back okay, my life down here is nothing without you. I need you." George was in tears because never once had they been apart in all the months he'd been here. It has almost been a year, and he'd never feared that he'd never see his lover again. He was scared, and he didn't want Dream to go, but he was also aware that he could not stop him.
"My beautiful angel, I'll always come back to you. I won't be gone long, this won't take long I promise. I can't take you with me for this, and I really have to do this for everyone's sake. Stay with Karl, okay? He'll comfort you. I'll come back to you, my angel, I promise." Dream smiled, pulling him into another kiss
Tubbo couldn't tell if he was resisting to gag, to laugh, or to smile like an idiot, but nonetheless he looked away feeling awkward as ever. Quackity on the other hand, was so ready to make fun of Dream it wasn't even fit.
"I love you. I'm going now." Dream turned away, heading to the steel door.
"I'll always come back for that sweet piece of ass! I'll always come back for sloppy kisses with you, my lovely-dovely, super sexy angel man! I 'Wuv you!" Quackity laughed, nearly screaming in a fit of high pitched laughter.
"Oh, fuck you Quackity, I watched you lick my best friend today out of spite, you're lucky I didn't ream you out for that." Dream scoffed, opening the door and leaving.
George lightly hit Quackitys shoulder. "I am not just some angel he can kiss and stare at! I'm his lover!" George jokingly shouted, before bringing his hand back down and wrapping them around himself.
"What the fuck was that? You licked Sapnap?" Tubbo nearly bursted into laughter.
"Oi, both of you shut it or I'm making both of you walk." Quackity stated quickly, moving towards the stairs to get the both of them up without straining anyone. Tubbo took his time, and went slowly, but made his way up without complaining.
His legs were not injured, but his back was bloody and sore, and he was still coming down from the hours of panic he had beforehand. George felt like a burden again, the fact that he had to be carried was pathetic in his eyes, he wanted to learn to do something on his own, and yet he couldn't.
They made their way out of the house after some struggle, but they made it out with their souls intact and that's all that mattered.
"George, my friend, your anxiety is making me nervous, what's the matter?" Quackity asked, glancing down at the angel in his arms.
George looked like he was on the verge of a panic attack. "I've never been away from Dream before, I'm so scared that he's going to get hurt." George rubbed his hands against his arms, seeking some kind of comfort he would've received from Dream. It did not work.
"My friend, there's no soul in hell who could ever hurt Dream when he's angry. Besides, he has you counting on him to come home; you are his will-power to survive." Quackity explained easily, knowing in his soul that he was right. It eased George's mind a little bit, but not enough to calm him down completely.
"I'm still worried. We've never been apart, and now I'm putting his soul at risk by being away from him."
"The blood pact stretches farther than you'd think. You could make it halfway to heaven before you wither." The facts were the facts, Quackity had known this knowledge for quite some time now. The medic was the one who told him of the distance it'd take, and Quackity knew better than to question a man who has been impacted by such things.
"Can we slow down? My legs are still so numb." Tubbo spoke up quietly, not wanting to actually bother the two who were having a deep conversation, but he felt like he had a right to say something. He was in physical pain at the very least.
"Yes, my boy, we will slow down." Quackity immediately slowed his pace enough so that Tubbo could drag his legs along more comfortably.
"I'm sorry, Tubbo. You should be the one to be carried, not me. You're in pain." George always felt so down about himself for this reason. He has put Dream in danger because he had to carry him, he's been an inconvenience because he can't walk, and now he was hurting Tubbo because he couldn't use his legs.
"You didn't ask to fall, George. You can't walk, and I can. It's not your fault, I can manage." Tubbo immediately tried to make George feel better. No man should feel bad for something they cannot control. No man should feel the need to apologize when they can't be any other way.
"You're so kind, I don't understand it. Your life and your death has been so unfair, it's almost unsettling." George smiled a bit. He wondered if this was how Dream felt about him.
Before Tubbo could respond, he stopped in his tracks, making Quackity stop as well. "Wait! Can we stop here for a moment? Something important is inside!" Tubbo frantically tried to get Quackity to follow him into his house, remembering the photo inside on the wall.
"I have your photo, my boy, it's at my house. The three of you are staying with me for a while, and then I'm getting you all a house nearer to me, for my sake." Quackity dead panned, continuing the journey to his lover's house. He did not care for any protest Tubbo would have, he was ready to ignore all of them. He was only a little surprised when Tubbo didn't say anything, and even seemed to be a little relieved.
"Have you asked Tommy?" Tubbo asked. He already knew the answer of course, Tommy would never accept help unless he really needed it, and Tubbo wouldn't go against Tommy for the whole world. They were a duo, a pair, partners through life and death, and now they have Ranboo too, and he wouldn't give any of it up no matter how many years he's damned to hell. "My Tommy would've said no."
"I don't care what Tommy has to say about this. He's been fooling me since the day I first met him. I care for you boys very much, and I refuse to let you all live in danger. I won't allow you to be taken again. And for hell's sake, do not give away my things for free, it takes a great deal of my power to summon gems. People pay for my goods around these parts, and I intend to keep it that way." Tubbo said nothing, and George kept quiet out of stress.
They eventually saw Sapnap and Karl's house in the distance. You could hear Tommy's screeching down the road.
"Oh my god, he's crying! Quackity, please hurry up!" Tubbo tried to walk faster than Quackity, letting go of his shoulder to rush forwards to comfort his friend. He fell forwards into the dirt, banging up his knees in the process.
"Jesus, Tubbo, please stay by my side. You can't walk, and we won't get there any faster if you break your legs. I'm going to take you both inside, and then go get that fuckin' medic up, he's been asleep long enough at this point." Quackity sighed, leaning down enough for Tubbo to take his shoulder again.
They made their way inside slowly, with Tubbo practically trying to run up the small hill to the front door. They made it there eventually, opening the door without even bothering to knock.
They made it to the main living space, seeing Tommy weep heavily into Ranboos shoulder, clutching the little bee pendant tightly into his fist, while Ranboo quietly tried to hush him, and Karl rubbing his back tenderly, hoping to bring some kind of comfort. Sapnap was pacing, looking more and more stressed by the second.
Sapnap saw Quackity and immediately looked incredibly relieved to see him with George and Tommy with him. Sapnap tapped Karl's shoulder to alert him of the current situation. Karl instantly lit up.
"Tommy, look who's here." Karl softly spoke while shaking Tommy's shoulder.
Tommy looked up, sniffing and syphing his breath, while he rubbed his eyes to clear some tears. "Tubbo!?" Tommy asked as if it weren't true when they locked eyes.
"Hey, boss man." Tubbo smiled, stretching out his arms when he saw Tommy get up to run to him.
"Holy shit! Tubbo! I thought I'd lost you!" Tommy shouted, toppling the two of them over in a tackle hug. Tubbo ignored the immediate pain in his back.
"You could never lose me, I'm always around." Tubbo smiled, wrapping his arms around Tommy's back.
"Oh, my Tubbo! I'm so sorry I let this happen to you!" Tommy cried, while Ranboo made his way over to join the floor hug.
Quackity laid George down on a couch and went back to stand where he was. Karl walked over to Quackity with a smile, wrapping his arms around his back and dropping his head over his shoulder. "I never want to hear a child cry ever again." Karl sighed, kissing the side of Quackitys neck.
"Ah, mi amor, it's so good to be back. I have to go get the medic for Tubbo, and Dreams off about to start a damned war." Quackity leaned his head back against Karl's shoulder, finally feeling his stress slip away.
"You did good, Quackity." Sapnap came over and wrapped his arm around the two of them, kissing Quackitys cheek. "I'm glad you're okay." Quackity smiled, until he heard Tommy speak again.
"Let's go home, Ranboo's been so confused. Let's just go take a nap and put new locks on our door, okay? I won't let this happen to you again." Tommy went to stand up and offered a hand to Tubbo, which he took and smiled.
"Ah-ah, I don't think so. You guys are staying with me for a while, and I'm getting you a new house nearer to me. Stay here for now, I have to go get the medic." Quackity said sternly, removing himself from his lovers touch and turning to the door.
"Our home is waiting for us, really it's fine. I can keep my friends safe." Tommy tried to reason quickly, helping Tubbo sit on the couch, and making sure Ranboo sat with him too.
"I took a trip to your house today, while I was going to find my boy. There's holes in your walls, cracks in your windows, rotting wooden floors, and nothing of value. You're coming with me and that's final."
"But we have stuff there!" Tommy tried to argue, but Quackity was having none of it.
"Tubbos blanket and your photo is already at my house, child. There's no getting out of this. You're staying with me. All three of you boys."
"But why?" Tommy asked, sitting down next to his friends.
"You're my boys. Your safety matters more to me than you know." Quackity answered easily, turning to leave again. The boys stayed cuddled on the couch without saying another word, while Quackity gave Sapnap and Karl a quick kiss each and left for the medic finally.
"George, are you okay?" Karl asked slowly, going to sit next to his friend. George teared up instantly.
"This is the first time I've been away from Dream. I'm so scared he won't come back in one piece." George broke down as quietly as possible. He didn't want to disturb the little reunion happening next to him on the other couch.
"Oh George, you know he'll be okay. He's strong, lord knows that, and he has the will of a man with a lover waiting at home. He'll come back, I promise." Karl smiled and sat with George on the couch for comfort. Sapnap sat next to George as well, rubbing his shoulder awkwardly.
"I know Dream, I've always known Dream. He's coming back for you." Sapnap stated easily, not knowing what else was left to be said.
They waited in a stressful silence, while Tommy and Tubbo eventually came down from tears. Such large contrasts of emotion in the room presently; teenagers reunited, and an angel panicking silently. Like black and white, truly.
"My friends, I've brought the medic." Quackity walked through the hallway to the living room, dragging along a tired, pink haired man behind him.
"I've just woken up, be quiet." Technoblade groaned, immediately sitting on a couch as he entered the room. "Quackity says one of you is hurt, and a crazed demon is coming here after a fight. Who's first?" Techno rubbed his face and sat up to look around. "George, you look terrified, are you the one that's hurt?"
"I told you it's Tubbo who's hurt, and Dreams on the way." Quackity sighed; he gently touched Tubbos shoulder to get him to go over to Techno.
"Alright boy, sit here for me, I will stand above you and fix you." Techno lacked his usual sense of professionalism, clearly still quite tired even after days of sleeping. And of course, as soon as he's woken up, he's asked to heal many people at once.
"Ok, but it's really not that big of a deal. I've been through worse down here, pain is temporary." Tubbo sat on the couch and showed his bleeding back to the doctor.
"Eh, whether you'd like to be healed or not, Quackity would perish me. Maybe even steal an eye." Techno and Quackity made tense eye contact, yet no one said anything at all. "Okay, let me see here... oh, it's not so bad, he just scratched away at the scar tissue, how long have you been here?"
"A couple months, maybe... four?" Tubbo shrugged.
"Yeah, around four months." Tommy agreed from the other couch.
"Ah, less than George over here, but you weren't in heaven for long. What was it, a few minutes? These were almost healed, but this is only a little set back. You'll be fine, and the scars should fade almost entirely in a year." Technoblade laid both his bare hands on the weeping wounds, feeling how long the healing process should take. "This is good, only a few seconds should do it."
"That feels so weird!" Tubbo gasped a little bit, feeling like the pain was being sucked out of him from Techno's hands; quite literally it was.
"Yeah, people often say that. It's good though, yes?"
"Yeah, really good, I feel like I can move around so much better now." Tubbo shifted around on the couch, only to have Technoblade stiffen him up again.
"Aye, don't move yet, I'm almost done." A few beating moments passed, the room was silent as ever; quite unusual for Sapnaps home for sure. Techno lifted his hands and wiped them on a stray cloth he had summoned earlier. "There you go, all fixed, you're left with what you had before. Put your shirt back on and try not to move around too much for the next little bit. You'll be fine." Techno flopped back against the couch, Tubbo to his left, and George to his right. Sapnap got up and went back over to Quackity, Karl following afterwards.
"George, you look the most in pain out of all of us, are you sure you don't need healing?" Technoblade asked tentatively, laying a hand on the angel's shoulder.
"No, there's nothing you can do, I'm just worried. Dream is my blood partner, I cannot continue an immortal life down here without him, I know I can't. I refuse to." George looked up at the ceiling, feeling useless as ever.
"Did Dream promise you that he'd be back?" Technoblade asked, not touching on anything else George had said.
"Yeah." George hugged himself, feeling worse by the second.
"Then don't worry, he's coming back. He doesn't promise things unless he's sure, and you're his soulmate, he knows you're here waiting for you. Don't be so worried, I've seen that man do crazy things in anger, and he hasn't perished yet. He's coming back to you, maybe a little broken physically, but that's what I'm here for. Relax a bit." Techno reassured George like it was nothing at all.
Everyone keeps comforting the angel that the devil is going to come back, and yet he doesn't feel any better. He's stressed; stress can drive a man crazy.
All these emotions happening in one room, insane. Meanwhile, Dream was ready to kill the masses of hell.
~
"I'll kill him for the final time! I'll fucking perish him!" Dream shouted as he took strange concrete stairs to the ground above. They lead to the dead forest, a place void of any life. Dead trees, scorched grass, rubbled dirt. Nothing worth a second glance. He hated this place.
"Come out, you vile creation of tar! You may have noticed that my soul bleeds just as yours does, however, I am far stronger than you. I'm aware you've stolen the boy, Tubbo, away from his home, I've already taken care of him. But you? You're going to perish today, before the blood moon rises over this vacant limbo." Dreams blind rage fueled his words with truth, for nothing could stop the strongest of them all.
"You're full of yourself." An old, vexing voice echoed through the trees. Dream found himself spinning around to find the source, in the centre of a small clearing.
"Show yourself and accept your fate! You've drawn your cards, it's time to reap what you've sown." Dream couldn't stop spinning around to find the demon hidden in trees. He found nothing all over again.
"I write my own fate, today is not my day to perish." The voice snickered, causing angry chills to smash through Dreams' spine.
Silence surrounded Dream, isolating him from his usual lively atmosphere. When he walked away from this still breathing, he couldn't wait to be surrounded by his friends again.
Never shall the devil ever feel content in silence. It blares through his ears and screams at his mind. He'd rather anything else to occupy his thoughts.
The silence was broken when lightning struck Dream's arm, making him shriek in pain. The old demon stepped into the clearing finally, smiling like a maniac.
"You fucker! Only a coward strikes from afar!" Dream shouted, summoning a godly axe he bought from Quackity years ago.
His arm hurt, he struggled to hold his own axe, but that didn't stop him from swinging mercilessly and taking a chunk out of the demon's leg. The man fell to the ground screaming, but instead of giving up, he used his good leg to strike Dream's chest.
You could hear his ribs cracking under the impact.
"I will not perish here today!" The man jumped to his feet, surprisingly able to stand with a huge gouch in his leg, and still he managed to tackle dream to the ground. Dreams' axe went flying behind him, just out of reach. It fucking hurt his leg the way he landed. "You will wither before me! Our souls may bleed the same, but I have more power to hold!"
The demon's fist collided with Dream's eye, surely to leave it black for days.
"I have people waiting for me at home, I'm finishing this today and walking out of here still immortal!" Dream screamed, pushing the guy off of him and grabbing his axe. He pinned the demon down and gouged out his eye, causing blood to splatter over his clothing. "People who like to have their way with children deserve to be blind!"
"When I walk away from this I'm going for your angel next!" The man yelled through his painful screams of agony. Clearly the man had been doing some talking around; demons of hell knew the devil had fallen in love, it was his weakest point.
"Now you've done it! Fucking perish already!" Finally Dream held his axe high enough to chop down on the man's neck.
The screaming was deafening, and the sound of final death was louder. The old man's soul fell to the ground as his body perished beneath Dream.
Dream crushed the soul in his fist and ate it despite the fowl taste on his tongue.
The devil finally took a breath and laid against the dead, blood covered grass. He knew he wouldn't be able to get home in this sorry state. Only one thing willed him to get up, George. George was waiting for him at Sapnaps house. He'd make it back with a broken leg, a shattered arm, and a few cracked ribs, he knew he would. He stood slowly and sent his axe back home.
"Fuck, that hurts." Dream groaned, willing himself to take steps.
"Dream? There you are! Oh my goodness, you look terrible!" Dream looked forward quickly, immediately taking a breath with ease.
"Bad? How'd you know where I was?" Dream tried to take another step forward, but fell to his knees on the ground again. Skeppy ran forwards to help him up.
"Quackity called me from the medics house, he said you were in a fight with some demon. He knew you'd win, but he was right to think you'd need some help getting back to Sapnaps." Skeppy helped Dream to his feet again while Bad came over to let Dream wrap an arm around his shoulders.
"What's broken, anything too painful to move?" Skeppy asked quickly. Dream and Skeppy may act as rivals from time to time, but Skeppy truly cared for Dream. They took slow steps in sync and began to move.
"Somewhere in my leg, definitely my arm, a few ribs for sure, and my eye is going to be black for some time. But the demon is dead now, so it was all worth it." Dream tried to speed up with his two friends, but each step he took caused a hells worth of pain to rock through his body.
"Fucking hell, I can't walk like this. I can't walk at all. Let me sit down for a moment." Dream was ashamed to admit that he physically couldn't make it home, but there was nothing he could do about it. Everything hurts.
"We can't stop. George is at Sapnaps worried about you. We aren't going to stop now. We can stop when we get there." Bad said sternly, his mind was already made up, him and Skeppy kept walking as Dream dragged his legs along.
Something about thinking of George shaken up on Sapnap's couch while everyone tries to comfort him lit a fuse in Dream's head. He walked faster now, ignoring the pain he felt so deeply all over himself. He sped, hell, he almost began to run.
"Damn, you don't look very hurt now." Skeppy laughed ever so lightly, speeding up to be at his pace with Bad. They made it back to the beaten path in no time, Tommy's house was already in view of the three.
"George needs me, I'm not going to leave him waiting any longer than I already have." They sped down the rubble. Dream could feel his leg getting worse by the second, but he ignored it in silence. His breath was fast, he could barely breathe, but he didn't stop for a second.
Finally, Dream saw Sapnaps house. Never once in his immortal life had he been so excited to see Sapnap's house, because now he knew George was inside waiting for him in anxiousness.
"My angel's in there!" Dream cheered, willing his friends to pick up the pace enough to satisfy his pain and hast.
"You're going to give Technoblade one bad day with the damage you're doing to yourself." Skeppy laughed, although happy to hurry Dream along to bring him the relief he deserves. He'd has had one hell of a fucking day, he needs to relaxe a bit for now.
"Ah, that's what he loves to do anyways, it's his thing. He'll be happy to heal me." Dream smiled regardless of blaring shocks of pain that began to make him feel as though his soul was withering.
The door was so close, so close Dream could reach out and touch it. "Let me walk in. I want my angel to see me strong." Dream let go of his friends and opened the door to the log hallway ahead. He let his friends go before him.
He heard the emotion in the air. The teenagers giggling from dumb jokes, the triple lovers cooing over each other, Bad and Skeppy rambling about plans for later, the medic sitting in silence, and George. George, he could hear the fear in the air, he could hear the stress coming off of him. He could feel his sorrows. Bad and Skeppy entered the room unnoticed for the most part. Dream entered behind, looking around and spotting his angel silently shaking on the couch infront of him.
"Angel." Dream spoke from the far end of the room, just loud enough for everyone to hush and look in his direction. The angel and the devil made eye contact.
"Dream!" George shouted, just short of a scream.
Everyone stared in disbelief as they watched a miracle unfold before them.
George, the fallen angel, stood up on his two feet with tears falling from his eyes.
"Dream!" George sobbed openly out loud in front of everyone in the room, he wanted to run to his lover, but he was left with immobile legs.
"George!" Dream ran to George instead of making George move. Dream grabbed his angel's waist and pulled him into a hug. "Baby, you're standing!"
"I know, I'm just so happy you're back!" George cried, wrapping his arms around Dreams shoulders.
"I told you, I'll always come back to you." Dream laid his cheek against George's soft hair, finally feeling relief after the hell of a day he's had.
"Are you hurt? Techno's awake now, see? He's going to help you!" George quickly pointed to the doctor yawning in the corner. Techno waved awkwardly.
"Ah, the medic. Since you're here, I believe my arm is about to fall off based on the pain I'm feeling right now. My leg is shattered for sure, and a few of my ribs are broken. Plus my eye. And, my soul is one tap away from dislodging." Dream smiled, never once letting go of George. George's eyes widened in shock, looking Dream dead in the eyes.
"I told you to be careful, my friend." Quackity smiled from his corner with his lovers. He was proud, he was happy, and he was glad Dream was home in almost one piece.
"You're lucky I'm not withered right now." Dream laughed, stroking George's cheek. He was too happy to see his angel to feel the pain.
"Jesus, come sit." Techno moved to an empty couch and gestured Dream to follow him. Dream went to pick George up, but recoiled in pain. Subpoena rushed to his side to keep him standing.
"You're aware your arm is broken in many places, and still you choose to be irrational and force more pain onto yourself. Honestly, you're lucky I agree to operate on you." Technoblade sighed, summoning some random medical products to sit on the floor next to him.
"Here, I'll take George." Sapnap carefully took George out of Dream's arms, and laid him on the couch where Karl and Quackity had just sat.
"Well, If I can't pick up George then I'm definitely hurt badly." Dream laughed again, limping over to the couch by Technoblade.
"Sit down, you devil." Technoblade helped Dream lay down, and immediately went to his leg first. "Jesus, your femur is entirely shattered." Technoblade chuckled when he laid his bare hands on the leg.
"Yeah? I think my ribs must not be there anymore, because my leg hurts the least." Dream smiled, laying his good hand behind his head and taking a breath. It felt good to be tended to, surrounded by people you trust, and people who wanted to help you.
"Dream, if it hurts too bad I can wobble home next to you. I don't want to hurt you any more than you already are, we can manage together." George held a hand over his heart, hoping with all his heart that when Dream stood back up he'd be pain free.
"Angel, my love, When I walk out of here it'll be with you in my arms. Believe me, Techno works magic for broken bones." Dream smiled at the care he was given, this was all he could've hoped for. This day may turn out good afterall.
"Tubbo, how are you feeling? You're back any better?" Dream asked, craning his neck to look at the boy he had risked his life to save with no regrets.
"It's better now, Technoblade helped me out. Thank you for this, no one has ever really risked it all for me besides Tommy before." Tubbo smiled, wrapping an arm around Tommy's shoulders.
"Eh, what can I say? George likes you." Dream smiled. He wasn;t one to just blurt out how he felt, but his actions spoke louder for him. He cared for everyone in this room. "Hey, Quackity? Thanks for calling Bad for me, I wouldn't have made it home without them."
"What? I didn't call anyone? Bad, I didn't even know you helped Dream home, you kind of just showed up, my friend." Quackity looked between the two confused as ever. Dream went to look at Bad, but Techno made sure he stayed still.
"Ah, well, actually we didn't get a call." Bad scratched the back of his neck. "Technically, Skeppy knew you were about to perish."
"What the fuck? How the hell did you know that?" Dream looked at Skeppy, only to feel Techno slap his leg. "Jesus, I'll stay still."
"It was our deal, I tricked you into it." Skeppy laughed, crossing his arms. Bad lightly tapped his shoulder to get his lover to stop.
"What does that even mean? Our deal was about money, not pain."
"Technically, our deal was that whoever was richer during the fall of hell was the winner. Obviously, hell cannot fall, so whoever perishes first would make the deal finish. Therefore, I get a sense when you're about to perish, and you would get a sense whenever I'm about to perish. Bad made me do it to make sure you would always be safe or whatever, I definitely did not give a fuck." Skeppy explained how he knew easily, and without admitting that he was worried. "Oh, by the way, I would've won, I'm richer than you at the moment."
"The only reason you would have won is because your husband is a merchant, you twat. But thank you anyways, I wouldn't have made it back here without you." Dream felt that little fire of competitiveness flare up within him again. He figured he'd go home and buy some more jewelry because of it.
"Uh, we're not married." Skeppy quickly choked out, and Bad simply laughed at his lover. They've been together for centuries, they're basically married.
"You're almost done, just have to fix your eye now." Techno mumbled, moving his hands to Dreams' swollen eye.
"Oh, so now you care about people's eyes, huh?" Quackity quickly spat, only to have Techno glare at him from across the room. Karl silently rubbed his lover's arm and said nothing.
"Is he going to be able to walk? Or feel any pain after?" George wanted to walk over to Dream and hug him, but he couldn't move from his spot on the couch next to Tubbo and the boys.
"No, he won't feel any pain, he'll be back to the way he was before. However, we should talk about payment, shouldn't we?" Techno smiled, rubbing a cold liquid over Dream's eye.
"What do you want?" Dream asked, scratching his arm that was just healed, it definitely didn't hurt anymore.
"Hm, I don't know. I already have a vial of your blood... maybe George's blood this time, I don't have a fallen angel's blood." Techno glanced over at George, who suddenly looked much more nervous than he did before.
"Techno, I hope you know that If you weren't healing me right now, I'd punch you so hard that your soul would dislodge." Dream said sternly, feeling his eyes open back up again.
"No, no, I could give my blood, It's no big deal. You just fixed my lover's bones, the least I could do is give some blood." George looked over at Techno and tried to smile, but he found it hard not to shake.
He's always feared needles. Maybe it was because the church always made it sound like a bad thing, or maybe it was because he never had one before. All he knew is that Techno uses needles to get blood.
"No, George, you're not giving your blood to the medic. Pick something else, Technoblade." Dream made it clear that George was off limits, and Techno had to respect that.
"Fine. I want an angelic rose, but Quackity charges too much for it. I want you to pay him for me." Technoblade smiled, removing his hands from Dreams' face. He was looking good as new.
"I asked you to fix the scar over my eye! How the fuck is that expensive, you fucking prick!" Quackity shouted, only to have Sapnap grab his shoulder to calm him down.
"And I told you that you deserve that scar, now, sell Dream the damned rose." Technoblade stood up and stared directly at Quackity. Everyone looked at the two awkwardly, because no one had a damned clue what was going on.
"I've had to live with this scar for decades! Fix it God damn it!" Quackity yelled even louder. Finally, Karl spoke up.
"It's okay, love, you're beautiful either way. Just sell Dream the rose." Karl smiled at Quackity, who looked defeated in a way, like he'd lost an argument again.
"Fine." Quackity summoned a glowing, white rose. "I want you to take care of a guy I don't like, he's a pain inflictor so I can't get near him, but you can for me. He's a bitch who never paid his debt."
"Alright, give me his information and I'll deal with it tomorrow." Dream and Quackity shook hands and Dream took the rose, handing it to Technoblade.
"There, what do you want a rose for anyways?" Dream asked. He had a pretty good idea of what it was for, but he could be wrong at the same time.
"The grave." Dream nodded as Techno walked over to Tubbo. "Your healing is on me since it's your first time. Try not to get into too much trouble again, because next time it'll cost you." Dream smiled because he knew that Technoblade didn't charge the boy because he has a soft spot for children.
"Okay, thank you! I feel much better now!" Tubbo smiled, watching as Technoblade went back home to continue his nap.
"Alright, the three of you go to my house, I'll join you shortly. And if you're not there, I will find you guys and ground you." Quackity pointed to the boys.
"You can't ground us! We're basically adults!" Tommy groaned, but stood up with his friends anyways.
"C'mon, Tommy, let's just go. Besides, we get to stay in a mansion like we always wanted!" Tubbo cheered, grabbing Tommy's hand to drag him along.
"I would have bought you a mansion when we were alive, but we kind of died." Tommy smiled at Tubbo's excitement. Plus he was glad that Ranboo wouldn't forget where they lived anymore.
"Oh well, to Quackity's!" The three boys left, leaving just the adults in the room.
"Ah, finally, I'm so glad that's over." Quackity sighed, flopping down onto the couch next to George. "I told you Dream would come back."
"Yeah, with broken bones and a black eye! If he gets hurt tomorrow I'll be the one to perish your soul." George crossed his arms, even in knowing that he wouldn't be able to do a thing.
"I was joking about that, Dream owes me nothing." Quackity smiled, waving to his lovers to come sit with him.
"He doesn't?" George asked, confused.
"I don't?!" Dream sat up with a bright smile and confusion.
"You brought me to my boy and ended the guy who took him. This one's on me. I just wanted Technoblade to think I wasn't giving away stuff for free. Maybe one day he'll need something bad enough to heal me." Quackity laid his head against Sapnap's shoulder, while Karl ran his hand through his hair.
"Hell yeah! I was fucking worried about tomorrow!" Dream fist bumped the air, making George giggled at him. George looked to Dream and held out his hand, signalling Dream to pick him up and take him to sit with him. He did immediately.
"We should probably get going. It's bad for us to stay out before nighttime. You never know when those damned cult members are going to show up again." Badboyhalo smiled, wrapping his arm around Skeppys waist.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure they'd be a little pissed to know we've been here the whole time." Skeppy scratched the back of his head.
"Alright, thank you again for helping me. Even if you tricked me into it." Dream ran a hand through George's hair, and smiled at his two old friends.
"Not a problem. See you guys soon. We should all get together sometime and have a party or something." Bad laughed, leading Skeppy out to the door.
"For sure! Bye guys!" Sapnap called after them, finally laying his head back against his couch. "If I even have to hear a child cry again, I'm going to rip out my own soul." Sapnap sighed, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a package of gummies.
"Do those have cannabis in them?" Karl asked quickly, going to take the baggy.
"Yeah, I deserve it after today!" Sapnap argued, reaching his hand out of distance from Karl.
"You barely did anything at all! I was the one comforting Tommy the whole time! C'mon give them to me, I want to have a nice evening with my boyfriends!" Karl complained, trying to reach for the bag again. Quackity quickly snatched the package out of Sapnap and tossed them to Dream.
"Keep those away from Sapnap for me." Quackity laughed at his little victory while Sapnap groaned.
"You guys suck." Sapnap threw his head back against his couch again.
"I can do a lot more than sucking for you if you stay sober for me." Quackity leaned in to kiss Sapnaps neck, while Karl laid his hand against Sapnaps thigh.
"And that's our que to go, my angel. Have fun, you freaks." Dream stood up with George in his arms.
"Alright, have a safe trip home guys! Come again sometime when lives aren't in the line, okay? Like Bad said, we could have a party!" Karl smiled, waving to his friends.
"For sure, let me know whenever it's happening. Me and George are probably going to go straight to bed anyways." Dream waved to the three the best he could and headed down the hallway.
Once they were out of view George wrapped his arms around Dreams neck to pull him into a kiss.
"Mhm, what's that for?" Dream asked before kissing George again.
"Please don't ever leave me alone again, I was so scared for you." George laid his head against Dream's cold, comforting chest. Finally able to enjoy his presence again.
"Awe, my poor angel. I won't leave you alone again for a long while unless I really have to ever again, okay? I promise. Now, let's go get some sleep, we've had a long day.
"Okay. I love you, Dream. You're my blood partner, you mean everything to me."
"I love you too, my precious angel."
And thus the angel and devil went home again, ready for some sleep. Despite the long, tedious day they've had, they still end up in each other's arms at the end of it.
If only God would stay out of the picture forever.
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